oa Save kids, not all children with minor head injury need CT head, QIP in Hamad General Hospital Emergency Department, Qatar

Background: Whilst Head CT scanning carries an important role in the identification of clinically significant intracranial injuries, there are associated risks of radiation. Our initial audit of clinical notes and survey of EM physicians revealed a rate of 45% CT scans for pediatric minor head injuries with around half of requests not indicated. In 36% there were issues with documentation. The aim is to achieve a sustained compliance with Internationally acceptable guidelines of Head CT scanning for pediatric minor head trauma at Hamad General Hospital Emergency Department (ED).

Intervention: We conducted staff education through weekly program of Continuing Medical Education for emergency physicians, prominent display and availability of handouts of the International clinical decision rules (NICE guidelines, PECARN) in all clinical areas within the ED, encourage proper documentation for all head injury cases to meet JCI standards of documentation, and formulate a revised pediatric head injury guideline based on the international clinical decision rules.

Methods and results: The audit in August 2014 showed that 62 CT head were done, 45% of them were deemed unnecessary when measured against NICE guidelines. Also there was deficient documentation in 36% of cases due to the unavailability and difficulty accessing the guidelines. We supplied all areas in the ED with handouts of the guidelines, and conducted shop floor education for ED physicians. Regular sessions were conducted during educational activities and emergency seminars. The re-audit in January 2015 showed decreasing rate of CT scans at the rate of 22% achieving a reduction by 33% and improvement in the documentation by 31%. The overall reduction of and decreasing the percentage of unindicated CT head by around 30%.

Conclusion and recommendation: Managing minor head injury in pediatric age group becomes more safe by increasing the physician awareness about the evidence based updated guidelines.